Wal-Mart offers DRM-free music download service
Taking one step ahead of its rival Amazon, Wal-Mart has launched its own music download service that will sell songs from EMI and Warner free of the DRM copy protection code. While Amazon is still on the planning stage of its music download service, Wal-Mart has surprised the music download industry with its announcement. Wal-Mart will be selling songs at the rate of 94 cents per track and $9.22 per album.
Wal-Mart’s price is 5 cents lower than another rival and industry leader, Apple’s music store, iTunes. Apple’s music store sells tracks for 99 cents. But unlike the songs that were being sold in via iTunes which can be played only through Apple’s iPod products and iTunes software, Wal-Mart’s digital tracks has no restrictions on playability.
Despite its lower price, Wal-Mart’s music store still faces other obstacles. For one, Apple’s iTunes has already captured 80% of the music download market, and getting a piece of that market would require a strong marketing strategy. Another challenge for Wal-Mart is the expected entry of Amazon into the music download service.
Fortunately for Wal-Mart, more and more music companies are freeing up their music archives of copy protection codes. With the DRM issue being addressed by music companies, online music lovers are starting to get a far better deal.
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August 21st, 2007
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